“More than 60,000 members of the Lumbee Tribe will begin the process of receiving the benefits they deserve.”
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Ted Budd (R-N.C.) issued the following statement after the U.S. Senate passed legislation that puts the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina on the path to receive the full federal benefits they have long been unfairly denied. In January, Senator Budd joined Senator Tillis and other members of the North Carolina congressional delegation in reintroducing the Lumbee Fairness Act. The bill was included in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026, which the Senate passed today. The legislative package is now headed to the president’s desk to be signed into law.
“For nearly fifty years, the Lumbee Tribe has fought for the same rights and benefits that every other federally recognized tribe receives,” said Senator Budd. “Today, with the passage of this year’s National Defense Authorization Act, this long fight is over, and the more than 60,000 members of the Lumbee Tribe will begin the process of receiving the benefits they deserve. I want to thank Senator Tillis for his strong leadership of the North Carolina delegation as we fought for this provision, and his unyielding dedication to the recognition of the Lumbee people throughout his time in the U.S. Senate. Under the leadership of Chairman John Lowery, the Lumbee Tribe has had strong advocates in President Trump and his administration and in Representatives Rouzer and Harris who introduced the Lumbee Fairness Act in the House. I am grateful to have played a role in securing this major victory for such an important group of North Carolinians.”
BACKGROUND
The Lumbee Tribe is the largest American Indian tribe in the Eastern United States. In 1885, North Carolina formally recognized the Lumbee Tribe. Three years later, the Tribe began to seek federal recognition. In 1956, Congress finally passed legislation recognizing the tribe, but the bill included an unfair caveat that denied the Lumbee benefits that every other federally recognized tribe receives.
Upon the signing of the FY26 NDAA, the Lumbee tribe will be on the path to eligibility for all federal benefits provided to federally recognized tribes.
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